A School’s Guide to Implementation

Secondary Primary

Third Edition

Who it is for

Senior Leadership Teams, Heads of Departments, Teachers

Read the full guidance report

Recommendations poster

Recommendation 3

A structured, but flexible, implementation process


The final recommendations provides a structured process to help navigate and practically organise implementation. The process is organised into four flexible phases:

  • Explore – Making evidence-informed implementation decisions
  • Prepare – Planning and preparing for implementation
  • Deliver – Supporting initial implementation and enabling ongoing improvements
  • Sustain – Maintaining efforts and deciding on next steps

How does the implementation process fit with the behaviours and contextual factors?

Watch this 2-minute video to hear Professor Jonathan Sharples, co-author of the guidance, outline how the three recommendations of this guidance work together. The process helps school navigate change and organise implementation into manageable phases.

Additional resources

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Master checklist

These checklists at the end of each phase of the process are designed to help leaders reflect on implementation in their setting.

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Implementation process graphic

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Explore tool

The Explore tool helps schools select evidence-informed approaches that are right for their needs and setting. Schools should begin by weighing up considerations around the suitability of an approach then focus on more practical considerations around feasibility.

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Implementation planning template

A template to help create a clear and logical implementation plan.

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Editable implementation planning template

Build your own implementation plan with this editable tool.

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Example implementation plan

This example plan from Shotton Hall Research School shows how they planned to implement supporting teaching assistants to deliver the ‘Fast Forward to Fluency’ reading intervention.